New York Yankees

While it hasn’t been confirmed yet by Major League Baseball, Paul Lukas of Uni-watch reports that every team will wear camouflage jerseys and caps come Memorial Day on Monday. Lukas notes that replicas of the uniforms, which are on sale at MLB.com , appear to be similar to the camo colors the White Sox and Angels recently wore on Armed Forces Day . How does Lukas know MLB’s plans for May 27? The league gave them away on its website: In each case, the team’s online shop only shows a home camo jersey or a road camo jersey — not both — depending on whether the team is playing at home or on the road next Monday. Tucked away in the fine print is the following line: “As worn on-field Memorial Day May 27th, 2013.” Yes, they did: View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – New York Yankees News

(Jason Miller/Getty) Even before last night’s come-from-behind extra-innings win over the Orioles, it was obvious the Yankees are far exceeding expectations this year. The injuries piled up during the offseason and in Spring Training, leading to a bunch of scrap heap pickups forced into everyday roles come Opening Day. Lyle Overbay? Vernon Wells? Frankie Cervelli? This guys had no business starting the season assured of regular playing time for a team with World Series aspirations. The Yankees were widely picked to collapse completely and perhaps finish last, the kind of collapse that has been predicted every year since about 2007. Instead, they’ve thrived and currently sit atop the AL East with a little less than three-quarters of the season remaining. Yes, there is very long way to go, but New York has fared far better than even the most optimistic of fans could have expected. When Opening Day rolled around, I remember the mantra was “tread water until the injured guys return.” Expectations were definitely lower. Thanks to the team’s better-than-expected performance, Joe Girardi has started to get some super early Manager of the Year love. My CBS colleague Dayn Perry recently dubbed him the 25% AL Manager of the Year — basically the MoY to date — for example. The Manager of the Year Award has morphed into the “Manager Of The Team Who Most Exceeds Expectations” Award in recent years, and Girardi definitely fits that bill right now. Some late-season ridiculousness — just ask 2012 Bob Melvin and 2011 Joe Maddon — would help his cause too, but I’m hoping for a less stressful finish to the season. Looking around the rest of the league, the only other early-season AL MoY candidates are Terry Francona and John Farrell. Both the Indians and Red Sox are exceeding expectations so far, but both teams did make splashy offseason moves. Were expectations lower in Cleveland and Boston than they were in New York coming into the season? I’m not sure, but those two deserve the same kind of early MoY attention as Girardi. The next 120 or so games will sort this out, and some new candidates will inevitably emerge. It’s obvious these days that a Yankee needs to have an outrageous season to win any kind of major award, like a 2007 Alex Rodriguez season. Without that big gap in performance, the other guy always seems to get the benefit of the doubt. That might work against Girardi because the Yankees still have the largest payroll in baseball and hey, they should be able to plug their holes on short-notice. Not every team can absorb $13M of Wells’ salary at a moment’s notice. That mentality exists and it could come into play. Only two Yankees managers have won the award since it was first handed out in 1983 — Joe Torre in 1998 (had to give it to him because of the team’s record-breaking season) and Buck Showalter during the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. That’s all. Girardi has already been named MoY once before, taking home the award during his lone season with the Marlins in 2006, but that shouldn’t matter. I’ve never been an ardent Girardi supporter, but he’s done one hell of a job keeping this ship afloat through the injuries. If there was ever a time a Yankees manager deserved the Manager of the Year Award, this is it. Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blogJoe Girardi and the super early Manager of the Year race

While the unexpected success of veterans like Wells and Hafner dominated the early headlines, lately it's the kids getting the bulk of the spotlight as the Yankees continue to get helpful contributions from rookies.  5 in all have made their Major League debut already this season, something that the Yanks haven't done since guys like Mo and Jeter debuted back in '95.  For a team that's had its MiL system defined by a lack of upper-level impact talent, it's notable not only for the number of players but also for the fact that the team continues to win ballgames and have those rookies be major contributors to those victories.  Vidal Nuno throwing shutout starts, Preston Claiborne getting late-inning outs in big spots, David Adams raking from the middle of the order, it's all great. Whether you're a prospect hugger or not, something like watching a bunch of  homegrown rookies come up and play well is always exciting from a fan's perspective.  Those guys are easy to root for and I always find myself paying more attention to their at-bats and plays in the field to see how they look as Major Leaguers.  For a number of reasons, I hadn't watched a live Yankee game in a couple weeks up until last night's ESPN broadcast.  I got my first ever look at Adams and Austin Romine last night, two guys who I ID'd last year as rookies I expected to contribute this season, and as a fan and a pseudo-prospect hugger here's my take on them. Click "View Full Post" to continue.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: L 5-6 (10 innings) vs. Columbus Clippers 2B Corban Joseph 0-4, BB, 2 KRF Brennan Boesch 0-4, BB, 3 K - batting .105 with SWBLF Zoilo Almonte 2-4, BB - 11 for his last 44 (.250)1B Dan Johnson 1-4, BB, K3B Josh Bell 2-4, RBI, BBDH Thomas Neal 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K - 10 for his last 32 (.313)CF Melky Mesa 1-5, 2B, RBI, KC Jeff Farnham 0-4SS Addison Maruszak 0-4, K Chris Bootcheck 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, WP - four groundouts, seven flyoutsJim Miller 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, KSam Demel 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 KJosh Spence 0.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER The RailRiders had a 5-1 lead at the seventh inning stretch before Jim Miller imploded and Josh Spence failed to record an out in the bottom of the tenth inning. Chien-Ming Wang pitches for SWB today at 10:35 am. Double-A Trenton Thunder: W 7-3 vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels LF Ramon Flores 1-5, RBI, BB, K2B Jose Pirela 0-6, K, E4 - 4 for his last 41 (.098)RF Tyler Austin 1-3, 2 BB, KC JR Murphy 2-3, RBI, 2 BB - 10 for his last 38 (.263)CF Slade Heathcott 3-5, 3 RBI, K - hit safely in seven straight, 12 for his last 39 (.308)DH Neil Medchill 0-5SS Ali Castillo 1-4, RBI, BB3B Kevin Mahoney 1-3, 2 BB Mikey O'Brien 7 IP, 3 H, 3 R/2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, E1 - fielding error, 3-0 since promotionAaron Dott 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, KDanny Burawa 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, 2 K - one groundout, one flyout Richmond scored three runs in the first inning off O'Brien but were shut down the rest of the game while the Thunder offense took care of business, scoring in five different innings. Matt Tracy starts for Trenton today at 6:35 pm. High-A Tampa Yankees: W 2-1 vs. Bradenton Marauders CF Mason Williams 0-4, 2 K2B Angelo Gumbs 2-4, 3BDH Rob Refsnyder 0-4, KC Gary Sanchez 2-4, 2B, PB - 14 for his last 39 (.359)LF Ben Gamel 0-4, K, 2 SBSS Carmen Angelini 0-4, RBI, E6 - batting .290 this season1B Saxon Butler 1-3, RBI, HBP3B Dan Fiorito 1-2, BB, K - batting .329 this seasonRF Jose Toussen 0-2, K Shane Greene 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R/0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K - six groundouts, three flyoutsCesar Cabral 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 KTaylor Garrison 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K Hits were even, but the Yankees scratched out a win thanks to superb work from all of their pitchers. Sean Black starts for Tampa today at 6:30 pm. Low-A Charleston RiverDogs: L 2-5 vs. Savannah Sand Gnats CF Jake Cave 0-4, 2 KSS Claudio Custodio 0-4DH Greg Bird 0-3, BB, K3B Dante Bichette Jr. 2-3, BB, K - six game hitting streakRF Yeicok Calderon 0-3, BB, 2 K1B Reymond Nunez 1-4, 2B, 2 K - batting .298 this seasonLF Kelvin De Leon 2-4, 2 RBIC Wes Wilson 0-4, 2 K2B Fu-Lin Kuo 1-4, 2 K Cesar Vargas 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R/1 ER, BB, 2 K, E1 - seven groundouts, four flyoutsAdam Smith 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, K, WP - four groundouts, zero flyoutsBrett Gerritse 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K Charleston was shut out until the ninth inning and their 1-3 hitters combined to go 0-11. That's pretty much all you need to know about this one. In exciting news, Rafael DePaula starts for the RiverDogs today at 7:05 pm.

The Orioles have one of the better closers in baseball, but last night they watched Jim Johnson blow a third consecutive save opportunity. Through most of baseball, it’s hard for a manager to walk to that mound, call in a reliever and feel absolute trust. But it must be hard for Joe Girardi to feel anything less these days. In the month of May, the Yankees bullpen has pitched to a 1.66 ERA (10 earned runs, 54.1 innings). The relievers walked 13 and struck out 55. In the past 10 road games, they have a streak of 26.2 scoreless innings. “It’s pretty basic for them to come in and make pitches and get people out,” Austin Romine said. “Right now, these guys are working real hard. They’re making pitches when they need to make pitches. We’re pitching smart, and good things are happening when you put the ball in the glove.” If ever there were a time to appreciate Mariano Rivera, it’s surely after watching Johnson struggle, then watching Rivera pick up his 17th consecutive save. He continues to be that steady force in the ninth, a goal for every pitcher ahead of him just working to get the ball in his hands. “It’s not normal what he does,” Vernon Wells said. “We’re just glad to have him on this team. We’ll continue giving him opportunities, he’ll continue slamming the door and we’ll shake hands after the game.” Rivera said he feels strong. Despite the age, despite the workload, he feels sharp. And it shows. It’s hard to doubt him when he’s getting results like this. And the rest of the bullpen seems to be falling in line ahead of him. “I feel the same with my teammates; I feel the same with my manager,” Rivera said. “You have to feed off that, the confidence with anybody. He puts anybody there. Everybody has been doing the job and hopefully we’ll continue doing it. It makes the team feel great. … Everybody is pitching. That’s what it is. It’s not only about one player, it’s about 25 players and a bunch of guys in the bullpen that we have. Everybody is doing their job. It’s a nice thing and I enjoy every bit of it.” Associated Press photo The post Yankees finding stability in the bullpen appeared first on The LoHud Yankees Blog.

They are becoming a thing now. Time to start grabbing for “the narrative” (is there a more irritating contemporary term?). These grittsy, gutsy Yanks are the anti-Yankees. Just wait ’til the superstars return, then they’ll fall into the gutter. Give Vernon Wells 600 at bats! Start Overbay over Teixeria! Beyond the silliness that accompanies this kind of run, there is the real satisfaction of watching these Yankees play above expectations (at least according to many of the pre-season predictions). Of course it’s early, and we’ll see how keen the Bandwagon is on the current Cinderellas when they inevitably turn back into pumpkins in the heat of summer, but also: we’ll take it. And there are reinforcements on the way. Last night, the Yanks remained calm and kept themselves in the game despite C.C. Sabathia giving up a lead. Travis Hafner hit a game-tying solo home run in the 9th and Wells had the go-ahead double in the 10th (Hafner added an RBI single). The bullpen, which has been the team’s great weapon so far, nailed down a terrific 6-4 win over the Orioles. Happy? You bet. Chad Jennings has the notes. [Photo Via: In His Grip]

Painting by Trevor Young.

Damn. I feel like the cad who falls for his best friend's fiance, while the guy is off at the Star Fleet Academy. I keep telling myself, "No, this is NOT happening! I'll break it off! I'm am not falling for Brian's girl!" Then the girl - her name is Lyle - homers in the seventh, and you can't take your eyes off her, and later, you're together in the back of team bus, and you're tearing the buttons from her jersey and-OK, you get my point, right? I'm in love with Lyle Overbay! There! I've said it! The forbidden truth! We want to get married! We want to adopt! But his boyfriend's back, and there's gonna be trouble, hey-na, hey-na... Listen: It's weird, rooting for this Yankee team. It's unlike anything we have seen since 1994. It's like 1983, the crash year, except we're winning. Last night, Lyle, Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells stole another victory with the kind of clutch hitting that, frankly, our big stars failed to furnish over the last three years. The A-Rod menagerie always put together big numbers, and we made the playoffs - but they were always a disappointment, never as good as they should be, because nobody hit with runners on base. Now this. Overbay is on a course to hit 20-25 homeruns and hit .255 - which is about what we'd get from Mark Teixeira (OK, maybe 30-35 and .240). Hafner would smack 30, and Wells, 35 - but folks, it aint gonna happen, because in another month, Joe Girardi will be rationing ABs like bottled water after an earthquake. As for David Adams? He'll be back on the DL - the Demoralized List - in Scranton, with Brennan Boesch, Corbin Joseph, Vidal Nuno, Austin Romine and maybe Eduardo Nunez. In about two weeks, Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis return. Shy of a suspicious series of airport restroom accidents, there is no way Overbay can stay a Yankee. We will salute him as he walks out the door - to Boston, Baltimore or Tampa, wherever - knowing that the most serendipitous Yankee acquisition since Aaron Small - the girl we've come to love - will soon play against us. And then... what will we become?The old baseball rule says you can't lose your job to an injury. I accept that. It's not Teixeira's fault that his wrist popped. But the old pessimistic fan in me says Tex will come back slow, cost us a few games, then finally start hitting and - pop - there's goes the wrist, and this time, he'll need an operation. Same with Youk. It's not his fault that his back feels like he sleeps on a bed of nails. But the old doomsdayer in me says he'll come back slow, cost us a few games, then finally start hitting and - ohhh - this time, gone for the season.A-Rod? You know the drill. By then, David Adams will have languished in Scranton for two months, and whatever magic this team captured in May - well - we can remember it and smile in September.It's amazing: I am literally dreading the return of the superstar Mega-Yankees. Last night, Curtis Granderson came up in a critical situation. In his signature move, he struck out on a 3-2 pitch that was above his nose, then marched skillfully back to the dugout, shaking his head. By my estimation, we have about 150 Grandy strikeouts to track through between now and October. Each will be more maddening than in the past, because he'll be taking ABs from Hafner and Wells. For a while, we'll have seen another option.I don't claim to know what Cashman can do. Frankly, this has been his greatest spring as a general manager. For us fans though, the Yankees have always been an affair of the heart. That's why we are so irrational and impulsive. I make no excuses for my rants and behavior. But this is one pain I can see coming. We're about to have our hearts broken.

Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible Yankees 6, Orioles 4: Travis Hafner saves the day Monday starting lineup vs. Orioles and injury updates Released Yankees: Where have you gone? Yankees vs. Orioles preview: Q&A with Mark Brown of Camden Chat Top 100 Yankees: #100 Johnny Lindell Baby Bomber Recap 5/19/13: Jake Cave doubles three times in RiverDogs win Around the Internet Upgrading the 2-Spot - It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski: Instead of using Robinson Cano or Jayson Nix in the two spot in the lineup, Joe Girardi could look to Curtis Granderson or David Adams to fill that spot. Continue to Contribute - The Star-Ledger | Andy McCullough: Lyle Overbay continues to work hard in order to keep his spot on the team, even though the return of Kevin Youkilis and Mark Teixeira might mean doom for him. Increased Workload - ESPN New York: Alex Rodriguez has started defensive drills and hitting in a batting cage where he fielded ground balls and took 25 swings. Holding Breath - New York Post | Ken Davidoff: Injury updates on Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Ivan Nova, Eduardo Nunez, and Michael Pineda. Awesome Start - It's About the Money | MJ Radolf: Take a look at Mariano Rivera's awesome start to his final season as he has now gone 17-for-17 in save opportunities. Where Are They Now - The Times-Tribune | Donnie Collins: The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have been an inconsistent team most likely because they have had an inconsistent roster with all the call ups to the majors. Getting Owned - NoMaas | Martin Riggs: Brett Gardner is struggling against fastballs and changeups so far this season as he attempts to swing more liberally at the pitches he sees. Seeking Control - MiLB.com | John Wagner: People are saying Mark Montgomery could be a future closer, but he's just worried about working through his control issues. Quick Hits Scott Proctor has retired from baseball. These are the hats that the Yankees will wear on Memorial Day. Charleston pitching prospect Gabriel Encinas had season-ending surgery. Phil Hughes has the eighth best WAR of all No. 23 overall picks in draft history. Charleston RiverDogs catcher Peter O'Brien has been named the SAL Player of the Week. Questions of the Day Who is the most overrated Yankee right now? What player did you have the highest hopes for, but didn't live up to expectations? Who is your favorite retread Yankee? What should the Yankees do with Ichiro? Coming Up Today Baby Bomber Recap 5/20/13: Slade Heathcott picks up three hits, extends hit streak to seven games @ 9 am Phil Hughes fighting for his job in the Yankees' rotation @ 11 pm Yankees' patience with Rafael DePaula is paying off @ 1 pm Yankees' catching situation is not just a one year deal @ 3 pm New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles at 7:05 pm (Game Thread at 6:30 pm)

Did I really see  that, behind home plate, during the game IN BALTIMORE, last night? Talk about taking it to the Orioles twice, once in the game and once on the ballpark advertising signage…